Saturated and Unsaturated Compounds

Saturated and Unsaturated Compounds: Overview

According to organic chemistry, two types of compounds are formed by the nature of chemical bonding between carbon atoms. Those are – Saturated Compounds and Unsaturated Compounds. Thus Alkene, Alkynes, and Alkanes are formed. Unsaturated compounds can have both double and triple bonds. For example, alkenes contain double bonds and alkynes contain triple bonds. So the fundamental difference between saturated and unsaturated compounds is – saturated compounds have only one carbon bond, whereas unsaturated compounds consist of double and triple carbon bonds.

Saturated Compounds

As we know, a saturated compound only consists of one single carbon bond. Aliphatic alkanes and cycloalkanes are the two types of saturated alkene compounds. They can quickly form through straight-chain side groups and can also be created through breached or cyclic structures. Therefore, it constantly includes without any double or triple bond.

Saturated compounds are comparatively more unreactive and stable than unsaturated compounds. They always have low melting and low, relative to their molar mass. All the carbon atoms are C-C bonds and are sp3 hybridized in saturated compounds. The simplest alkane is methane. It has 4 single-bonded carbon bonds, and all are placed in a tetrahedron structure. And the simplest cycloalkane is cyclopropane. It has 3 carbons attached to it, which results in a ring structure.

Each carbon atom has 3 hydrogen bonds attached to it, so only one C-C bond is possible. More hydrogen bonds are present in a saturated compound than that of an unsaturated compound, though having the same no. of carbon atoms. Apart from alkanes, alcohols such as butanol have only C-C bonds and one C-OH bond. But no unsaturation is present. Saturated fatty acids are also considered saturated compounds compared with unsaturated fatty acids. Saturated fatty acids also have unsaturated fatty acids, whose stricture does not have a double or triple bond.

Unsaturated Compounds

Unsaturated compounds are composed of double and triple bonded carbon atoms. These bonds can also be conjugated, which can be combined with the presence of chemical bonds in a reversible compound. The major unsaturated compounds are alkenes, alkynes, and aromatic compounds.

Alkenes are organic compounds that have one double carbon bond. A double bond consists of a sigma and pi bond. A sigma bond is a chemical bond formed for the reason of overlapping between atomic orbitals. A pi bond is formed due to the overlapping of p orbitals. The carbon atoms having double bonds in alkene are sp2 hybridised.

Now alkynes are compounds that consist of a triple bond structure. A triple bond is composed of a sigma bond and two pi bonds. The carbon atoms having triple bonds in alkynes are sp hybridised. An aromatic compound is an unsaturated compound comprising double bonds and single bonds that are arranged in an alternating pattern.

Unsaturated compounds are much more reactive than saturated compounds as double bonds and triple bonds are present in them. The hydrogen atoms per carbon atom are less than that in saturated compounds as they have C=C bonded carbon atoms. This results in instability. Unsaturated compounds can undergo polymerization. The polymerization of unsaturated compounds makes saturated polymers.

Saturated and Unsaturated Compounds: Differences (On basis of some parameters)

• Definition

Saturated compounds- These compounds are organic compounds that have only one carbon to carbon single bond.

Unsaturated compounds- These compounds are organic compounds that have double or triple carbon to carbon bonds.

• Pi Bonds

Saturated compounds- They have no pi bonds due to presence of a single bond.

Unsaturated compounds- They have pi bonds due to the presence of double and triple carbon bonds. There are 1 pi bond in alkenes, and 3 pi bonds in alkynes.

• Reactivity

Saturated compounds- These types of compounds are less reactive.

Unsaturated compounds- These types of compounds are more reactive than saturated ones.

• Hybridization

Saturated compounds- The hybridization in these compounds are always sp3.

Unsaturated compounds-  The hybridization in these compounds are either sp2, or sp3.

• Polymerization

Saturated compounds- These compounds do not undergo polymerisation.

Unsaturated compounds- These compounds undergo polymerisation.

• No of Hydrogen Atom

Saturated compounds- They have more no. of hydrogen atoms in their compounds.

Unsaturated compounds- They have fewer no hydrogen atoms in their compounds.

• Stability

Saturated compounds- These are more stable compounds.

Unsaturated compounds- These are less stable compounds.

Saturated Compounds and Unsaturated Compounds: Differences

Conclusion

Carbon compounds have a different nature of their own. But here, the main difference is only between single and double bonds in saturated and unsaturated compounds.